Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)

I also wish to oppose the proposed increase in car tax. It is a regressive measure, particularly in the constituency I represent, in which people are forced to travel to try to find work. However, the Government now proposes to increase the burden of taxation on them to make it more difficult for them. In a county such as Donegal that has virtually no public transport, cars are not a luxury. They are necessary for those who wish to try to find work or to improve their position but the Government is forcing this measure on them. Moreover, to add insult to injury, while car tax used to go towards funding local government, the proposal to add €47 million as a debt reduction measure is a waste of time that would not even meet a percentage point on the interest rates. This is an extremely regressive measure to which I am fully opposed.

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